Washing-machine.



No. 694,I43. Patented FeII.g25, |902.

v.I. II. ELLIS.

WASHING IIIAcIIIIIE.

' (Application med .my 12, 1'901 I (No Modal.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

uj- INVENTIJR John IHIU,

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H07 694,|43. Patentd Feb. 25, |902.

J. H. ELLIS.

WASHING MACHINE.

" t' mdJ112 1901 No Manel.) v v 2 shets-shet .2.

mvENTmB John HEHKM ATENT OFFICE.

.IOIIN II. ELLIS, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

WASHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION ,forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,143, datedFebruary 25, 1902.

Application tiled July 12, 1901.

To all whom it 17mg/ concern: Be it known that I, JOHN H. ELLIS, acitize of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoriaand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Washin g-Machines; and I do hereby declare vthat the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention pertains to a Washing-ma chine.

rIhe object of my invention is to construct a machine which will befound to be as well adapted for cleaning heavy clothing-such as coats,vests, and other padded garments-as for washing ordinary articles.

Another object is to provide a machine in which the clothing beingwashed or cleaned can be raised out of the water on a suitable platformor carrier for inspection. l

A still further obj ect is to provide improved means for holding theclothes so that they 'cannot possibly roll up into a ball while beingcleaned, and, further, that the padding or wadding in garments will notbecome disarranged and will pass through the cleaning process withoutinjury of any kind. These various objects and advantages will appear asthe description proceeds.

p In the appended drawings, Figure l is alongitudinal sectionalelevation of the machine, showing its parts in the normal operatingposition. Fig. 2 is a like view showing another position of its parts.Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of astrainer and carrying-platform. Fig. 5 is a transverse section. Fig. 6is a perspective view of a portion of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4.Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine, showing amodified form of its working parts. Fig. Sis a perspective view of aroller, showing its connection with the slotted sides of the machine.Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the strainer and carrying-platformalready alluded to.

In the figures, A represents the bottom, B the sides, and C the ends, ofa tank for holding water and which forms the body of the machine as Iprefer to construct it. Supports or legs D are provided for this tank,and in the bottom of the latter in each cor- Serial No. 68,123. (Nomodel.)

ner is a bar E, Fig. 9, arranged as indicated in Fig. 5. Resting uponthese bars when in operative position isaplatform F, consisting of aseries of slats forming a grill, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Upon thisplatform is placed and fastened a sheet of loosely-Woven vfabric F',which will project on all sides, as

shown in Fig. 4. The said platform is carried by means of bails G, theextremities of which project through the bars E in a horizontaldirection and whose looped portions support the platform to which theyare stayed by meansof staplesA H. Thus arranged the platform is free tomove in the arc of a circle, using the staples and the bars E asbearings for the said bails. Said plat-form is shorter than the lengthof the tank, so that it will freely rise and fall from its highest toits lowest position without hindrance. When raised, the platform restsagainst one end of the tank, and the means for holding it in thatposition is indicated in Fig. 3. It consists of two rods I, pivotallyconnected at one end to the sides of the platform at about the middle.The free ends project beyond the end of the tank in Figs. 2 and 3 andliein notches I. A cross-bar .I connects said free ends and form a handleby which the platform maybe manipulated. A collar I2 or other similardevice is affixed to each rod I in such manner as to just rest behindthe end of the tank at the outside when the platform is at its fullheight.

In Fig. 7 I have shown another manner of raising the platform. A rod Kis connected pivotally with a lever L, which is carried at the side ofthe tank, and the opposite end of said rod is loosely connected with thebail G, as shown. When the lever is thrown back and forth, the platformwill rise and fall, depending, of course, upon the direction ofmovement, and when -said lever is thrown to the vextreme left, as viewedin said gure, the connection of the rod K therewith is carried below thecenter and forms a lock, so that the platform cannot fall. From theforego ing it will be seen that I do not confine myself to anyparticular form of mechanism for accomplishing the purposes set forth.In the first form described the rods I and bar J lie at the bottom ofthe tank out of the way, as shown in Fig. 1.

IOO

The fabric F' before mentioned projects at each side and end, as alreadyintimated, and these when folded over upon the kplatform form an envelopWithin which the clothes to be cleaned are placed, and in order to holdthese in position I employ cords N, as indicated in Figs. 2, 5, 6, and'7, wherein also are shown a series of hooks M in the side of theplatform and under which the cords arecaught and zigzagged back andforth across the platform and the inclosing fabric. The end iaps areheld together by means of cords O thereon, as in Figs/L and 9. In thelatter figure I shoW anothermeans of holding the side flaps. It consistsof straps secured to said portions and answering the same as the cords Oon the end ones, and these are tied in the same manner,v

all of which is easily understood. I use with my machine a roller P,which is passed back and forth upon the enveloped clothes as they lie inthe water at the bottom of the tank,as in Fig. 1. This operation forcesthe Water from the clothes as it passes over them, and a continuedmotion back and forth constantly moves the water through and through theclothes by a kneading process. In addition t'o the Weight of the rollerI add an additional pressure when desired through the means shown inFig. 8. This consists in pivoting a cross-arm U to the handle Q near theroller proper. This arm carries a ballroller at each end, which isseated in a slot S in each side of the tank. By means of pins T or othersuitable devices the arm is held against movement on its pivot While atwork. Vhen it is desired to remove the roller from the tank, the pinsare removed and the arm turned to withdraw the rollers from the slots,all of which will be readily understood.

While I show and describe the roller P as having connection With themachine,it is by no means necessary to do so but I prefer to use it bothWays; but by attaching it to the machine more pressure can vbe put uponthe clothes by raising the handle, and by the same rule if less pressureis wanted a pressure upon the handle will raise the roller.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The platform F is first raised to the position shown in Fig. 2 and theflaps of the fabric opened. The clothes are then laid upon the platformto the desired depth, after which the flaps are laid over them and thecords fastened, as described. The tank being filled with Water to thedesired depth, the platform is lowered to the bottom and the roller Pinserted and locked Within the slots S, if desired, or simply left freeto be rolled back and forth. When it is desired to examine the clothes,the 'roller is removed from the tank and the platform raised by thelever L or the rods I, as the case may be, and the flaps opened toexpose the clothes to vieW. If

thoroughlyclean, the clothes are removed and others put in their place;but if it is found to require more Washing the process is againundergone. If a particular spot is to be treated,

the roller can be applied locally to quickly remove it. Sincetheplatform is perforated, the Water can quickly drain through it whenraised out of the tank, and before examining the articles the roller, ifrun over them, will quickly force the Water out. My device is welladapted for cleaning clothes With gasolene or other cutting fluids inwhich it is sometimes desirable to wash them and it becomes unnecessaryto put the hands into these liquidswhen using a machine of this kind. Inthe backWard-and-forward movement of the roller the Water will naturallybe thrown in a flood toward each end of the tank and by impinging uponthe ends Will splash up and out, and in order to prevent this in aneffectual manner I provide a deectingplate R at each end, whereby whenthewater strikes the end it will also strike the plate and be defiecteddownward into the tank. To this, however, I attach no claim. The entireplatform and its various parts may be removed from the tank quiteeasily, since` the arms E E merely pass under blocks E attached at oneend O of the tank and are used to prevent the said arms rising When theplatform is pulled up. The opposite ends of the arms simply lie on thebottom and when lifted can be slipped from under the blocks E at theother end.

By removing the entire inner apparatusI the tank can be readily cleanedand sweetened, and I provide in the bottom a plug V, through which theWater may be drawn.

When the platform is raised, as in Fig. 2, an open space isA left at theright end, as viewed in Ithe drawings, and upon the end of the tank maybe placed the Wringer, and the clothes as they are taken from theplatform can be passed immediately through said Wringer or first rinsedin the open end of the tank just mentioned. Thus it is seen that theentire device is very convenient for the AIlSel.

My device is admirably adapted for cleaning coats and other garments ofWhatever nature having padding therein. These can be Washed very readilyWithout disturbing the padding in the least, as will be seen. Inaddition to Washing garments blankets containing padding may also bementioned.

Lace curtains can be readily washed without the slightest injury byreason of employing the roller, and other fabrics of even a moredelicate nature can be treated as easily. The value of the machine maythus be appreciated.

Having made all my objects and ,advantages clear, I claiml. In aWashing-machine, a tank for holding water, a'removable platform securedin said tank and adapted to rise and fall for the purposes set forth,supporting means for said platform for holding it horizontally in allpositions, means for raising and lowering said platform upon itssupporting means and an inclosing fabric on said platform for envelop-IOO IIO

velop'ing the clothes,

ing the clothes substantially as set forth and for the purposesdescribed.

2. A washing-machine comprising a tank, a perforated platform thereinfor carrying the clothes, the same adapted to be raised andlowered,means for carrying the same in a horizontal position, anenveloping fabric attached to and covering the platform for the purposesset forth, horizontal slots in the sides of the tank, a roller fortraversing the length of the platform upon the clothes for the purposesexplained, a handle for operating said roller, a cross-bar on thehandle, entering and moving within the slots all being arrangedsubstantially as described.

3. A washing-machine comprising a tank, a perforated plat-form F, bailsG for supporting it and permitting it be raised and lowered asdescribed, fabric secured to the platform for enveloping the clothes tobe Washedv and a roller P for passage over the clothes upon the platformas set forth.

et. In a washing-machine, a tank, a perforated platform F therein, bailsG for supporting the same, the arm E E in the bottom of the tank inwhich the extremities of the bails are carried, fabric on the platformfor inclosing the clothes to be washed, a roller P for traversing theplatform from end to end upon` the clothes, a slot in each side of thetank from end to end, a handle for the roller and a cross-piece on saidhandle for entering and moving within the slots substantially as and forthe purposes described.

5. In a washing-machine the tank, a movable platform F therein, bails Gfor carrying the same, the fabric on the platform for enmeans for movingthe platform and locking it in its raised position, a roller P withinthe tank and means for guiding it in its movements and producing more orless pressure upon the clothes as set forth and described.

6. In a washing-machine the tank A, B, C of rectangular form, the arms Ein the bottom, the bails G pivoted thereto at their lower ends, theperforated platform supported at the top of said bails, the envelopingfabric F secured to the top of the platform for inclosing the clothes tobe washed, the arms I for raising and lowering the platform for thepurposes described, means for holding the latter after being raised andthe roller P for mov-' ing over the platform for washing the clotheswithin the fabric l5" all being arranged vsubstantially as and for thepurposes described.

7. In a washing-machine the tank A, B, C of rectangular form, slots S inthe sides thereof, the arms E in the bottom, the bails Gpivoted theretoat their lower ends, the perforated platform supported at the top ofsaid bails, the enveloping fabric F secured to the top of the platformfor inclosin g the clothes to be washed, the arms I for raising andlowering the platform for the purposes described, 65 means for holdingthe latter after being raised, the roller P, the handle Q for the same,the cross-arm U pivoted thereto and engaging the said slot S all for thepurposes set forth and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses'.l y

JOHN H. ELLIS.

Vitnesses:

DAN. R. SHEEN, FRANK T. MILLER.

